Ladd McConkey — Week 2: Three Catches, Two on Third and Long
2026 NFL Season · Half-PPR Scoring · Monday, Sep 21
McConkey caught all three of his targets for 35 yards: 19 on third and 11 in the second quarter and 12 on third and 12 from the Chargers eight in the fourth, both converted. He was active after leaving Week 1 with a chest injury, per ProFootballTalk at NBC Sports. Three targets were down from seven, in a 26–14 loss to the Raiders.
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Seven to nothing, Raiders, 10 11 left in the second quarter, third and 11 at the Chargers 30. Justin Herbert threw deep left to Ladd McConkey for 19 yards and the first down. +2.7 expected points added — expected points added is what a play was worth given down, distance and field position — and +7.1 points of win probability, the chance of winning the game after the play against before it. Six plays later Omarion Hampton scored from the one to tie it. With 11 18 left in the fourth quarter, down three, third and 12 at the Chargers eight, Herbert went back to him: short left, 12 yards, exactly the distance needed, +2.7 expected points again and +8.3 points of win probability.
The line: three targets, three catches, 35 yards, two first downs, 34 air yards, +5.1 expected points on the targets, the best total for any Chargers receiver. The third catch was four yards over the middle on first and 15 with two 54 left, down 10. Both third-down throws to him were caught and converted, and the Chargers converted five third downs all day. One target before halftime, two after.
McConkey was active, per ProFootballTalk at NBC Sports, a week after a chest injury ended his opener in the third quarter. His three targets put him in a five-way tie for second on the team with David Njoku, Brenen Thompson, Charlie Kolar and Tre Harris, behind Quentin Johnston's five. Herbert threw 27 times, so that is three of 27, against seven of 27 in Week 1.
Back in June the preview made no call on McConkey — the twentieth receiver at pick 44 after an injury-marred season that finished 30-fifth per game, with the bounce-back real and already priced in. The things to watch were health, first and always, and then a target share north of 20 percent. Week 1 had the share and lost the health. Sunday had the health, as far as the play-by-play can show it, with targets from the second quarter to the final three minutes, and lost the share. Two games add up to 10 of 54 throws, under the 20 percent line. What he did with the three was as good as it gets. The Chargers are at the Bills on Sunday the 20-seventh.
_Data via nflverse._
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